Reducing Sludge Generation in Treatment Operations

Different treatment chemistries and waste segregation techniques are discussed below. 

1 Use of Different Precipitating Agents and Other Treatment Chemicals 

Normally, hexavalent chromium in waste rinsewater or plating solutions is treated by being reduced to trivalent chromium with a reducing agent, followed by precipitation with lime. 

Sodium hydroxide has been examined as a substitute for lime (USEPA 1986). Sodium hydroxide precipitation agents have been shown to generate 12% less dry solids than lime precipitation. 

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